Patterned medical glove for use when taking a pulse

ABSTRACT

An ambidextrous or hand-specific glove including a wrist region, a palm region, and a digit region. The glove may be fabricated of nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of zinc, sulfur and accelerators to reduce allergic reactions in populations required to frequently wear protective gloves. A band region that partially or fully encircles a user&#39;s finger knuckles may be provided for easier finger bending. Texturing may be provided on glove surfaces that are used to grip articles. The tip regions on the front surface of the index and middle finger regions may be un-textured or smooth to enable a user to take a patient&#39;s pulse. These tip regions may be of reduced diameter and circumference so as to pull the glove material tightly around the tips of the user&#39;s finger so that even a faint pulse in a patient may be detected.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/936,503, filed Mar. 27, 2018, which is a Continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/136,191 filed Apr. 22, 2016, which applicationclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/152,302filed Apr. 24, 2015, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to gloves and more particularlyto nitrile gloves, such as those that may be used by medicalprofessionals. Specifically, the present invention relates to a gloveincludes a first layer of nitrile rubber that is free of or essentiallyfree of components that may cause hypersensitivity or allergic reactionin people who wear the glove. In particular, the nitrile rubber may befree of or essentially free of zinc and/or sulfur and/or acceleratorsand wherein an index finger region and/or middle finger region on theglove may be left un-textured or smooth to enable the user to easilytake a patient's pulse.

Background Information

Nitrile or nitrile rubber gloves are well known in the art, such as foruse in the medical field. One of the problems with such gloves is thatsome individuals have a hypersensitivity to various compounds that maybe included in the gloves, such as zinc and/or sulfur and/or a varietyof accelerators. Those accelerators may include but are not limited tocomponents such as carbonates or thiurams. In addition, surgical orother gloves may have a tendency to stretch when worn for long periodsof time, whereby the gloves may lose the ability to cling to the user'shand. This tendency for gloves to stretch may be a particular problemfor surgeons.

SUMMARY

There is thus a need in the art for an improved glove for use by personssuch as medical professionals that will have less of a tendency toaffect or cause allergic reactions in persons with hypersensitivity tovarious components or compounds used in the production of nitrilegloves. Further, there is a need for gloves that are designed to allowmedical professionals to take a pulse while also providing otherdesirable characteristics of the glove.

An ambidextrous glove and a hand-specific glove are disclosed herein.Each of the ambidextrous glove and the hand-specific gloves include awrist region; a palm region; and a digit region. The wrist region, palmregion and digit region define a hand-receiving cavity and the wristregion defines an opening to that hand-receiving cavity. The disclosedglove addresses some of the issues found with prior art gloves. Theglove disclosed herein is comprised of at least a first layer of nitrilerubber that is free of or essentially free of zinc and/or sulfur and/oraccelerators. Some accelerators that the glove's nitrile rubber may befree of or essentially free of may include carbonates or thiurams.

The composition of the disclosed glove may tend to reducehypersensitivity or allergic reactions in populations that may berequired to frequently wear protective gloves. The glove may include aband region in the digit region that partially encircles or fullyencircles a user's knuckles in one or more of their fingers and thumb.These band regions make it easier for the user to bend their fingersand/or thumb while wearing the glove. This improved bendability providedby the glove may help improve the user's dexterity while wearing theglove. The presence of the band regions may also reduce the tendency ofthe glove material to become stretched when the glove is worn for a longperiod of time.

The disclosed glove may additionally be provided with texturing onsurfaces that are used to grip articles such as the inside or frontsurfaces of the digit regions and the palm region. In such texturedgloves the upper regions of the front surface on the index finger regionand/or middle finger region may be left un-textured (i.e., texture-free)or smooth. The untextured or smooth front surfaces on the index and/ormiddle finger regions may enable the user to more easily take apatient's pulse than if these front surfaces were textured. The lack oftexture helps ensure that the naturally-existing tactile sensitivity inthe uppermost pads of the user's index finger and/or middle finger is asclose as possible to how sensitive these regions of the user's fingersare if no gloves are being worn. If a patient has an extremely weakpulse or is unconscious, it is extremely common that the vast majorityof EMT's (Emergency Medical Technicians) will immediately tear the indexand middle finger regions off previously known gloves in order to exposetheir bare skin so that they may try and locate the patient's pulse.This tends to occur no matter what size glove the EMT is using. When itcomes to taking a pulse, if there is any overlapping material on themiddle or index finger regions of a glove, then that extra materialtends to interfere with taking a pulse, particularly if the patient'spulse if faint. Of course, tearing the index and middle finger regionsoff a glove will leave the EMT at risk of contamination or harm becausethey now have exposed skin handling an injured or unconscious patient.The glove disclosed herein addresses this issue in that the smooth tipregions on the index finger region and middle finger regions ensure thatthere is close proximity between the user's fingertips and the patient'sskin. In some embodiments, the fingertips of the glove of the presentinvention are of reduced circumference and diameter, thus ensuring theglove material is pulled tightly over the fingertips and ensuring thatthere is very little if any excess glove material that can interferewith the user finding a faint pulse on a patient.

In one aspect, the invention may provide a glove comprising a wristregion; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region; a digitregion extending outwardly from the palm region; a hand-receiving cavitydefined by the wrist region, palm region and digit region, and anopening to said cavity being defined by the wrist region, said cavitybeing adapted to receive a hand of a user inserted through the opening;and wherein the wrist region, palm region and digit region are comprisedof a first layer of nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially freeof zinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators.

In another aspect, the invention may provide a glove comprising a wristregion; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region; a digitregion extending outwardly from the palm region, said digit regionincluding an index finger region and middle finger region; ahand-receiving cavity defined by the wrist region, palm region and digitregion, and an opening to said cavity being defined by the wrist region,said cavity being adapted to receive a hand of a user inserted throughthe opening; and wherein the wrist region, palm region and digit regionare comprised of at least a first layer of nitrile rubber that is freeof or essentially free of one or more of zinc and/or sulfur and/oraccelerators, and wherein the digit region and palm region may betextured except for a section of a front surface of one or both of theindex finger region and the middle finger region and the section islocated adjacent a tip of the associated index finger region and themiddle finger region and extends for a distance downwardly therefrom andtowards the palm region. The term “front section” should be understoodto be that part of the index finger region or middle finger region thatis adjacent the uppermost pad on the user's index or middle finger;where that uppermost pad is used to touch objects and is highlysensitive to the touch.

In another aspect, the invention may provide a glove comprising a wristregion; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region; a digitregion extending outwardly from the palm region and comprising an indexfinger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and littlefinger region and a thumb region; a hand-receiving cavity defined by thewrist region, palm region and digit region, and an opening to saidcavity being defined by the wrist region, said cavity being adapted toreceive a hand of a user inserted through the opening; and wherein thewrist region, palm region and digit region are comprised of at least afirst layer of nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free ofsulfur and one or more of the index finger region, middle finger region,ring finger region, little finger region and thumb region includes aband region adapted to be located proximate one or more of a user'sfinger knuckles; and the band region comprises alternating ridges andvalley's formed in the first layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A sample embodiment of the invention is set forth in the followingdescription, is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctlypointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of a glove inaccordance with an aspect of the invention; where the glove is anambidextrous glove and wherein a rear elevation view of the ambidextrousglove will be a mirror image of the glove shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the front of the ambidextrous glove takenon line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the front of the ambidextrous glove similarto FIG. 2 except showing an embodiment of the glove that includesadditional layers in the glove;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the glove inaccordance with the present invention showing a hand specific glove fora right hand; wherein the left handed glove will be a mirror imagehereof; and wherein the glove includes a plurality of band regionsformed in the digit regions;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the glove taken on line 5-5 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showingadditional layers of the glove;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view a third embodiment of a glove inaccordance with an aspect of the invention; where the glove illustratedis a hand-specific glove for a user's left-hand; wherein a right handhand-specific glove would be a mirror image hereof; and wherein thefigure shows texturing on the palm and digit regions but not on thefront surfaces of tip regions on the index finger region and the middlefinger region;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the glove taken along line 8-8 ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the glove similar to FIG. 8 showingadditional layers of the glove;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a fourth embodiment of a glove inaccordance with an aspect of the present invention, where the glove is ahand specific glove and the tip regions of the index and middle fingerregions are of a reduced circumference and diameter;

FIG. 10A is a cross-section through the tip region of the index fingerregion of the glove shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 10B is a cross-section through a wider portion of the index fingerregion of the glove of FIG. 10, where the wider portion is located belowthe tip region;

FIG. 10C is a front elevation view of the fourth embodiment of the gloveshown as an ambidextrous glove;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a fifth embodiment of a glove inaccordance with another aspect of the present invention, where the gloveis a hand specific glove that has texturing on the gripping surfaces ofthe glove but where the tip regions of the index finger region andmiddle finger region are free of texturing and are smooth;

FIG. 11A is a front elevation view of the fifth embodiment of the gloveshown as an ambidextrous glove;

FIG. 12 is an enlargement of the highlighted region of FIG. 11 showingthe diamond texture pattern; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-section taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12 and showingthe diamond texture pattern in greater detail.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a sample embodiment of an ambidextrous glove generallyindicated at 1. Glove 1 includes a wrist region 2, a palm region 4 and adigit region 6. Glove 1 has a top 8 and a bottom 10 with a bottomentrance opening 12 of a hand-receiving cavity 13. Entrance opening 12is at bottom 10 and serves to allow a user to insert his or her handtherethrough and into cavity 13. Entrance opening 12 is defined by wristregion 2. Cavity 13 extends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacent top 8.

Digit region 6 includes five finger regions comprising a thumb region14, an index region 16, a middle finger region 18, a ring finger region20, and a little finger region 22. Each of the finger regions 14-22 hasa base 24 and a tip 26. Each of the finger regions at its respectivebase 24 is secured to palm region 4 and extends upwardly and outwardlytherefrom to the respective tip 26. Glove 1 has an outer surface 28 andan inner surface 30.

Glove 1 may include a single first layer 32 as shown in FIG. 2, or aplurality of layers, such as layers 32, 34 and 36 as shown in FIG. 3.Where the single layer 32 is used, as shown in FIG. 2, outer surface 28of glove 1 is also the outer surface of layer 32, and inner surface 30of glove 1 is also the inner surface of layer 32.

Glove 1 may include one or more additional layers that make up theglove. FIG. 3 shows two additional layers used to form glove 1. In thisparticular example of a glove 1 with two additional layers, a second orintermediate layer 34 has inner and outer surfaces 38 and 40, and anouter or third layer 36 has inner and outer surfaces 42 and 44. Innersurface 38 of layer 34 may be in contact with and secured to outersurface 28 of first layer 32, while inner surface 42 of third layer 36may be in contact with and secured to outer surface 40 of second layer34. Thus, outer surface 44 of layer 36 serves as the outer surface 28Aof glove 1 when formed of these three layers. Inner surface 30 in eithercase defines cavity 13 and extends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacenttop 8 and serves as the inner surface of wrist region 2, palm region 4and each of the finger regions 14-22. Glove 1 may comprise one, two,three or more layers, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Where the single layer 32 is used, as shown in FIG. 2, outer surface 28extends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacent top 8 and serves as theouter surface of wrist region 2, palm region 4 and finger regions 14-22.Where the three layers are used as shown in FIG. 3, outer surface 44 or28A extends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacent top 8 and serves as theouter surface of wrist region 2, palm region 4 and finger regions 14-22.

Layer 32 may be formed of nitrile rubber. In particular, layer 32 may beformed of a nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of zincand/or sulfur and/or accelerators. Thus, each of outer and innersurfaces 28 and 30 may be free of these same components and compounds,thereby providing a glove that reduces or essentially eliminates, inusers, hypersensitivity or allergic reactions to compounds such as thezinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators. It will be understood thatpeople may have hypersensitivity to other compounds that may be used onoccasion in nitrile gloves. It will be understood that the nitrilegloves in accordance with an aspect of the present invention may be freeof or essentially free of compounds that cause hypersensitivity orallergic reactions in users who wear the glove 1.

In the case of glove 1 which includes more than one layer; layer 32 maylikewise be formed of this same nitrile rubber that is free zinc and/orsulfur and/or accelerators. Layers 34 and 36 may be formed of varioustypes of polymers that are typically elastomeric polymers that aredifferent from layer 32 and which may be the same as or different fromone another. Thus, the elastomeric polymer of any of the additionallayers may have a different composition to the nitrile rubber used inthe first layer. The layers other than inner layer 32 may be formed ofpolymers that may or may not include zinc and/or sulfur and/or anaccelerator. The use of an additional polymer layer or layers to defineouter surface 28A thus may provide a multilayer glove that essentiallyeliminates the allergic reaction to compounds such as the zinc and/orsulfur and/or accelerators noted above for a person havinghypersensitivity to such elements or compounds. This may be true even ifthe outer layer includes zinc and/or sulfur and/or an acceleratorbecause allergic reactions of this nature are most commonly caused byprolonged contact with the allergen such as when a person wears theglove for an extended period so that contact of the wearer's hand andthe inner layer/surface of the glove is the primary concern related toproducing allergic reactions.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a glove 50 is shown that is a hand-specificglove. In particular, FIG. 4 shows a right-handed glove although it willbe understood that FIG. 4 should likewise represent a left-handed gloveinasmuch as a left-handed glove is a mirror image of that shown in FIG.4. Thus, unlike the ambidextrous glove 1 shown in FIG. 1 in which all ofthe finger regions including thumb region 14 are aligned along orintersected by a common plane, glove 50 is configured such that the fourfinger regions 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be aligned along a common planewhereas thumb region 14 is spaced from said plane. Aside from the factthat glove 50 is a hand-specific glove, it is nonetheless similar toglove 1 in that it includes a wrist region 2, a palm region 4, and adigit region 6 which includes five finger regions comprising a thumbregion 14, index finger region 16, middle finger region 18, ring fingerregion 20 and little finger region 22. FIG. 4 also shows that each ofthe finger regions 14-22 has a base 24 and a tip 26 and is secured topalm region 4 as described with respect to glove 1. Each of fingerregions 14-22 has a finger front 52 and a finger back 54. It is notedthat the finger fronts 52 of finger regions 16-22 generally face in thesame direction and that the finger backs 54 of finger regions 16-22 facegenerally in the same direction and the opposite direction as fingerfronts 52 thereof. On the other hand, the finger front 52 of thumbregion 14 faces in a different direction than that of the finger fronts52 of the index, middle, ring and the little finger regions 16-22 andthe finger back 54 of thumb region 14 likewise faces in a differentdirection than that of finger backs 54 of finger regions 16-22.

One or more of each of finger regions 14-22 along the finger back 54thereof may include a band region 56 including a plurality of bandsegments 58 that include respective elastomeric bands 60. Each bandregion 56 also includes a plurality of trough segments 64 between eachadjacent pair of band segments 58. In the sample embodiment, the top ofthe band region 58 of a given finger region may be spaced downwardly adistance from the tip 26 of the given finger region, for instance, about½ or ¾ inch to about ¾, 1 or 1¼ inch and therefore may be positionedbetween a tip of the user's finger and the user's first knuckle in thatfinger. The bottom of each band region 58 may be located so that thebottom is located between the user's palm and lowermost knuckle on thatparticular finger or thumb (obviously only one knuckle is located on thethumb and the band region 58 associated therewith will originate betweenthe tip and the knuckle and the bottom of the band region will fallbetween the user's palm and knuckle on the thumb. Each finger region14-22 is formed of a peripheral wall 62 that defines the respectivefinger front and back 52 and 54, including the respective band region 56of band segments 58 and trough segments 64.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, band region 56 is described in thisparagraph as viewed in a section view taken parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the given finger region. Each band segment 58 has a concavelycurved inner surface 66 and a convexly curved outer surface 68 such thatsurfaces 66 and 68 extend from adjacent the top of the given bandsegment 58 to adjacent the bottom of the given band segment 58. Innersurface 66 faces the longitudinal axis of the given finger region andthe portion of cavity 13 defined by the given finger region while outersurface 68 faces away from the longitudinal axis of the given fingerregion and the portion of cavity 13 defined by the given finger region.For a given pair of adjacent band segments 58, the top of the lower bandsegment (including its surfaces 66 and 68) is adjacent the troughsegment 64 between the given adjacent pair and the bottom of the higherband segment (including its surfaces 66 and 68), which is also adjacentthe trough segment 64 between the given adjacent pair. Each band 60 hasa convexly curved outer surface 70 and an inner surface 72. Each ofsurfaces 70 and 72 extend from adjacent the top of the given band 60 tothe bottom of the given band 60. Inner surface 72 faces the longitudinalaxis of the given finger region and the portion of cavity 13 defined bythe given finger region while outer surface 70 faces away from thelongitudinal axis of the given finger region and the portion of cavity13 defined by the given finger region. Outer surface 70 of a given bandis in contact with and secured to the inner surface 66 of a given bandsegment 58.

Each band 60 is curved as viewed from above or parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the given finger region so that inner surface 72 isconcavely curved and outer surface 70 is convexly curved as so viewed.Each band 60 is thus configured to partially wrap around the back of agiven finger of a person wearing glove 50 with the given inner surface72 contacting the back of the given finger. This configuration helpsprevent glove 50 from sliding off of the person's hand, especially whenworn over an extended period of time. Each band 60 in the sampleembodiment extends only along the finger back 54 of a given fingerregion, and thus no portion of band 60 extends along the finger front 52of the given finger region. The band regions 58 stretch or elongate whenthe user bend their finger regions 14-22 and elastically returns to theregion's original configuration when the finger region 14-22 isstraightened. Band regions 58 aid in reducing the forces applied to thefinger regions 14-22 and thus tend to reduce the degree to which thefinger regions may stretch over time.

As with the multilayer version of glove 1 in FIG. 3, where additionallayers are used for glove 50 as shown in FIG. 6, the second orintermediate layer 34 has inner and outer surfaces 38 and 40, and theouter or third layer 36 has inner and outer surfaces 42 and 44. Innersurface 38 of layer 34 is in contact with and secured to outer surface28 of first layer 32, while inner surface 42 of third layer 36 is incontact with and secured to outer surface 40 of second layer 34. Thus,outer surface 44 of layer 36 serves as the outer surface 28A of glove 50when formed of these three layers. Inner surface 30 in either casedefines cavity 13 and extends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacent top 8and serves as the inner surface of wrist region 2, palm region 4 andeach of the finger regions 14-22. Where the single layer 32 is used asshown in FIG. 2, outer surface 28 extends from adjacent bottom 10 toadjacent top 8 and serves as the outer surface of wrist region 2, palmregion 4 and finger regions 14-22. Where the three layers are used asshown in FIG. 3, outer surface 44 or 28A extends from adjacent bottom 10to adjacent top 8 and serves as the outer surface of wrist region 2,palm region 4 and finger regions 14-22.

Peripheral wall 62 is formed entirely from layer 32 in a single layerversion of glove 50 (FIGS. 4, 5) and may be formed by a plurality oflayers, such as layers 32, 34 and 36 in a multilayer version of glove 50(FIGS. 4, 6). Thus, for the single layer version or multilayer version,inner surface 30 includes a finger region inner surface or peripheralwall inner surface 74 of a given finger region 14-22 or peripheral wall62. For the single layer version, outer surface 28 includes a fingerregion outer surface or peripheral wall outer surface 76 of a givenfinger region 14-22 or peripheral wall 62. For the multilayer version,outer surface 28A/44 includes a finger region outer surface orperipheral wall outer surface 76 of a given finger region 14-22 orperipheral wall 62.

Layers 32, 34 and 36 of glove 50 are formed of the same materials asnoted above with respect to glove 1, and each band 60 is formed of anitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of zinc and/or sulfurand/or accelerators. Thus, layer 32 and bands 60 provide the samehypoallergenic qualities noted above.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a glove 80 is shown that is a hand-specificglove. In particular, FIG. 7 shows a left-handed glove although it willbe understood that FIG. 7 should likewise represent a right-handed gloveinasmuch as a right-handed glove is a mirror image of that shown in FIG.7. Thus, glove 80 is configured such that the four finger regions 16,18, 20 and 22 may be aligned along a common plane whereas thumb region14 is spaced from said plane. Glove 80 includes a wrist region 2, a palmregion 4, and a digit region 6 that includes five finger regionscomprising a thumb region 14, index finger region 16, middle fingerregion 18, ring finger region 20 and little finger region 22. FIG. 7also shows that each of finger regions 14-22 has a base 24 and a tip 26and is secured to palm region 4 as described with respect to glove 1.Glove 80 has a front or front side 81 (or palm side) and a back or backside 83.

Each of finger regions 14-22 has a finger front 52 and a finger back 54.The finger fronts 52 of finger regions 16-22 generally face in the samedirection and that the finger backs 54 of finger regions 16-22 facegenerally in the same direction and the opposite direction as fingerfronts 52 thereof. On the other hand, the finger front 52 of thumbregion 14 faces in a different direction than that of the finger fronts52 of the index, middle, ring and the little finger regions 16-22 andthe finger back 54 of thumb region 14 likewise faces in a differentdirection than that of finger backs 54 of finger regions 16-22. Eachfinger region 14-22 is formed of a peripheral wall 62 that defines therespective finger front and back 52 and 54.

Each of finger regions 14-22 has a finger base region 82 having a bottom84 adjacent the respective base 24 and a top 86. Each of finger regions14-22 has a fingertip region 88 that extends upwardly from thecorresponding base region 82 to adjacent the corresponding tip 26. Eachfingertip region 88 has a bottom 90 at or adjacent the corresponding top86 and a top 92 at or adjacent the corresponding tip 26. Fingertipregions 88 may include fingertip region 88A of thumb region 14,fingertip region 88B of index finger region 16, fingertip region 88C ofmiddle finger region 18, fingertip region 88D of ring finger region 20,and fingertip region 88E of little finger region 22.

In the sample embodiment, the fingertip region bottom 90 and finger basetop 86 of a given finger region 14-22 is spaced downwardly a distancefrom the fingertip region top 92 and tip 26 of the given finger region,for instance, about ½ or ¾ inch to about ¾, 1 or 1¼ inch. Thus, eachfingertip region 88 may have a height from bottom 90 to top 92 of about½ or ¾ inch to about ¾, 1 or 1¼ inch. Each finger base region 82 andfingertip region typically extends along the finger front 52 of thegiven finger region and may also extend along the corresponding fingerback 54.

Whereas gloves 1 and 50 typically have an outer surface that is smoothin its entirety, glove 80 may have an outer surface that may have smoothportions and textured portions. In the sample embodiment, the outersurface of glove 80 has one or more smooth outer surfaces 94, one ormore lighter textured outer surfaces 96 that are coarser than smoothsurface 94, and one or more even coarser textured outer surfaces 98 thatare coarser than smooth surface 94 and lighter textured surface 96.Fingertip region 88B of index finger region 16 and fingertip region 88Cof middle finger region 18 may have smooth outer surfaces 94 that extendfrom adjacent the corresponding bottom 90 to adjacent the correspondingtop 92. Bottom 90 is located in a region that may be approximatelypositioned adjacent a front of the first knuckle on a user's hand.Smooth surface 94 extends from top 92 of index finger region 52 andmiddle finger region 54 downwardly for approximately a third of thetotal length of index finger region 52 and middle finger region 54. (Thelength will be understood to extend from the tip of any particularfinger region to the palm region of the glove.) Smooth surface 94 may beconfined to extend only along the given finger front 52 or may alsoextend along the given finger back 54.

Fingertip region 88A of thumb region 14, fingertip region 88D of ringfinger region 20 and fingertip region 88E of little finger region 22 mayhave coarser textured outer surfaces 98 that extend from adjacent thecorresponding bottom 90 to adjacent the corresponding top 92. Coarsertextured surface 98 may be confined to extend only along the givenfinger front 52 or may also extend along the given finger back 54.

The finger base region 82 of each of thumb region 14, index fingerregion 16, middle finger region 18, ring finger region 20 and littlefinger region 22 may have lighter textured outer surfaces 96 that extendfrom adjacent the corresponding bottom 84 to adjacent the correspondingtop 86. Lighter textured surface 96 may be confined to extend only alongthe given finger front 52 or may also extend along the given finger back54.

Wrist region 2 and palm region 4 may have lightly textured outersurfaces 96 that extend only along front side 81 of glove 80 or whichmay also extend along back side 83. Lightly textured outer surface 96may extend along the entirety of wrist region 2 along front side 81 andmay extend along the entirety of wrist region 2 along back side 83.Lightly textured outer surface 96 may extend along the entirety of palmregion 4 along front side 81 and may extend along the entirety of palmregion 4 along back side 83. Typically, lightly textured outer surface96 extends from adjacent the top of wrist region 2 to adjacent the base24 of each of finger regions 14-22 along front side 81.

As with the multilayer version of glove 1 in FIG. 3 and glove 50 in FIG.6, where additional layers are used for glove 80 as shown in FIG. 9, thesecond or intermediate layer 34 has inner and outer surfaces 38 and 40,and the outer or third layer 36 has inner and outer surfaces 42 and 44.Inner surface 38 of layer 34 is in contact with and secured to outersurface 28 of first layer 32, while inner surface 42 of third layer 36is in contact with and secured to outer surface 40 of second layer 34.Thus, outer surface 44 of layer 36 serves as the outer surface 28A ofglove 80 when formed of these three layers. Inner surface 30 in eithercase defines cavity 13 and extends from adjacent bottom 10 to adjacenttop 8 and serves as the inner surface of wrist region 2, palm region 4and each of the finger regions 14-22. Where the single layer 32 is usedas shown in FIG. 8, outer surface 28 extends from adjacent bottom 10 toadjacent top 8 and serves as the outer surface of wrist region 2, palmregion 4 and finger regions 14-22. Where the three layers are used asshown in FIG. 9, outer surface 44 or 28A extends from adjacent bottom 10to adjacent top 8 and serves as the outer surface of wrist region 2,palm region 4 and finger regions 14-22.

Peripheral wall 62 is formed entirely from layer 32 in a single layerversion of glove 80 (FIGS. 7, 8) and may be formed by a plurality oflayers, such as layers 32, 34 and 36 in a multilayer version of glove 80(FIGS. 7, 9). Outer surface 28 in the single layer version thus includesthe smooth, lighter textured and coarser textured surfaces 94, 96 and98, whereas outer surface 28A/44 in the multilayer version includes thesmooth, lighter textured and coarser textured surfaces 94, 96 and 98.Layers 32, 34 and 36 of glove 80 are formed of the same materials asnoted above with respect to glove 1 so that layer 32 provides the samehypoallergenic qualities noted above. The textured surfaces provided onglove 80 may be provided on regions of glove 80 that will be contactedwhen an article is gripped when glove 80 is worn by a user. The texturedsurfaces will, thus, enhance the gripping ability of the user and reducethe tendency for objects to slip when being held by the user whenwearing glove 80.

Referring to FIGS. 10-10B there is shown a fourth embodiment of a glovein accordance with an aspect of the invention, generally indicated at100. Glove 100 includes a wrist region 102, a palm region 104, a thumbregion 106, an index finger region 108, a middle finger region 110, aring finger region 112, and a little finger region 114. Glove 100 isillustrated as a hand-specific glove but the same principles as will bediscussed hereafter may be incorporated into an ambidextrous glove.

Glove 100 may be substantially identical to any of the gloves 1, 50, or80 except that at least the tip region 108 a, 110 a of the index fingerregion 108 and the middle finger region 110 are fabricated to be of asmaller circumference and diameter than are the tip regions of the indexfinger regions and middle finger regions of any of the other gloveembodiments disclosed herein. Additionally the tip regions 108 a, 110 aof the index and ring finger regions 108, 110 are of a smallercircumference and diameter than the remaining length of the respectiveone of the index and middle finger regions 108, 110. The remaininglength of these two finger regions is represented by the referencenumbers 108 c and 110 c, respectively in FIG. 10. Furthermore, the tipregions 108 a, 110 a are smaller in diameter and circumference than thering finger region 112, little finger region 114 and thumb region 106 ofglove 100. The circumference of the tip regions 108 a, 110 a is measuredaround an exterior surface of the respective index finger region 108 ormiddle finger region 110 and in an orientation at right angles to thelength of the respective finger region 108 or 110. The length ismeasured from a tip of the respective finger region down to the palmregion 104. The reduced dimensions (i.e., circumference and diameter)ensure that the glove material in each tip region 108 a, 110 a is pulledtightly around the user's index and middle fingers. The tightly pulledmaterial or film of glove 100 ensures that the user can more easily andreadily locate a faint pulse in a patient than if the glove material wasonly fitted loosely around these two fingertips.

The dimensions of the tip region 108 a of the index finger region andthe tip region 110 a of the middle finger region 110 may be reduced byfrom about 10% up to about 20% relative to the remaining length of thatparticular finger region 108 or 110, and to the other finger regions112, 114 and thumb region 106 in glove 100, or to the finger regions ofany of the other embodiments of the glove, and relative to fingerregions in prior art gloves. This reduction in the dimensions of the tipregions helps ensure that the glove film/material is stretched to thepoint that the film/material fits tightly against the user's index andmiddle fingers. The film needs to be pulled tight enough to ensure thateven a faint pulse may be detected through the film but the film shouldnot be stretched so tight that the gloves are restrictive oruncomfortable to wear.

Instead of just the tip regions 108 a, 110 a being of a smaller diameter“D1” and circumference “C1” relative to the tip regions of the otherfinger regions of the gloves disclosed herein, substantially all of thetip regions of the finger regions on glove 100 (including the thumbregion 106, ring finger region 112 and little finger region 114) may befabricated to be of a reduced diameter and circumference relative to theremaining lengths of those finger regions. Still further, instead ofjust the tip regions 108 a, 110 a being of smaller diameter andcircumference, the entire index finger region 108 and entire middlefinger region 110 may be fabricated to have smaller dimensions relativeto the index finger region and middle finger regions of the otherembodiments of the glove disclosed herein and relative to the ringfinger region 112, little finger region 114 and thumb region 106 ofglove 100. In other words, the index finger region 108 and 110 may be ofsmaller diameter and circumference along substantially the entire lengththereof from the palm region to the tip of the respective finger regioninstead of only being smaller in dimension along the tip region 108 a or110 a.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 10A, there is shown a cross-section throughtip region 108 a of index finger region 108. Tip region 108 a is shownto have a circumference “C1” measured around an exterior surface of thetip region 108 a; and a diameter “D1”. The circumference “C1” is of sucha size that when glove 100 is donned, the tip region 108 a will besmaller than the circumference and diameter of the user's finger that isreceived in the interior cavity 108 b thereof. Because of this reducedcircumference “C1”, the film of index finger region 108 will be pulledtightly around the user's finger as the material thereof stretches toallow of the user's index finger to enter into the interior 108 bthereof. Because of the stretching of the film of tip region 108 a toaccommodate the user's index finger, the thickness of the wall of tipregion 108 a will be reduced to a thickness “T1”. (A similar situationexists with tip region 110 a when the user's middle finger is insertedinto the interior 110 b therein.)

FIG. 10B shows a cross-section through the wider part 108 c of the indexfinger region 108. This wider part 108 c is located below the tip region108 a. The circumference of the wider part 108 c is greater than thecircumference “C1” of the tip region 108 a and is indicated in FIG. 10Bas circumference “C2”. The wider part 108 c is of a diameter “D2” thatis greater than the diameter “D1” of tip region 108 a. The circumference“C2” is of a size that will be greater than the diameter of a user'sindex finger that will be received into the interior 108 b of indexfinger region 108. The thickness “T2” of the wall of wider part 108 c isgreater than the thickness “T1” of the wall of tip region 108 a. Thethinner wall thickness “T1” of index finger region 108 ensures that thematerial of the tip region 108 a is pulled tighter around the tip of theuser's finger than is the material along the rest of the length of thewider part 108 b.

FIG. 10 shows that tip regions 108 a, 110 a are smooth or free oftexture, i.e., un-textured, thereby hindering the tactile sensitivity ofthe user's fingertips on their index and middle fingers to a lesserextent than if the tip regions 108 a, 110 a were textured. FIG. 10C is afront elevation view of the fourth embodiment of the glove. In thisinstance, the glove 100 is an ambidextrous glove instead of a handspecific glove. It will be understood that the rear elevation view ofthis glove will be a mirror image of what is illustrated in FIG. 10C.

Referring now to FIGS. 11-13, there is shown a fifth embodiment of aglove in accordance with an aspect of the invention, generally indicatedat 116. Glove 116 includes a wrist region 118, a palm region 120, athumb region 122, an index finger region 124, a middle finger region126, a ring finger region 128, and a little finger region 130. Glove 116is illustrated as a hand-specific glove but the same principles as willbe discussed hereafter may be incorporated into an ambidextrous glove.

Glove 116 may be substantially identical to any of the gloves 1, 50, 80or 100 particularly as relating to the shape and features of thesegloves. Glove 116 differs from the other gloves disclosed herein in thatsubstantially the entire front surface of the glove, i.e., the grippingsurfaces thereof, is textured except for the smooth and un-textured tipregions 124 a and 126 a in index finger region 124 and middle fingerregion 126. The rear surface and/or side surfaces of the glove 116 mayalso be textured if that is desired or if the glove is an ambidextrousglove.

The texture pattern utilized in glove 116 has been found to be mostadvantageous if the pattern is a diamond pattern. The illustrateddiamond pattern allows for better gripping ability when wearing glove116 because of the additional friction provided by the raised diamondshapes on the glove's exterior surface. The diamond shapes in thepattern also effectively and efficiently wick water and other liquidsaway from the glove's exterior surface. This again improves the grippingability of the exterior surface of the glove 116. It will be understoodthat instead of using a diamond pattern, other patterns may be utilizedon glove 116.

FIG. 11A is a front elevation view of the fifth embodiment of the glove116 except that, in this instance, the glove 116 is an ambidextrousglove. It will therefore be understood that the rear elevation view ofglove 116 will be a mirror image of what is illustrated in FIG. 11A.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration set out herein are an exampleand the invention is not limited to the exact details shown ordescribed.

1. A glove comprising: a wrist region; a palm region extending outwardlyfrom the wrist region; a thumb region, an index finger region, a middlefinger region, a ring finger region and a little finger region allextending outwardly from the palm region; wherein each of the thumbregion, index finger region, middle finger region, ring finger regionand little finger region includes: a tip region; and a remaining length;wherein the tip region originates proximate an end of the respective oneof the thumb region, index finger region, middle finger region, ringfinger region or little finger region, and the tip region has a lowerend proximate where a first knuckle of a person's thumb or respectivefinger will be located when the glove is worn; and wherein one or moreof the thumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region,the ring finger region and the little finger region includes atransition region that extends between the lower end of the tip regionand the remaining length; and wherein the remaining length extends froma lower end of the transition region to the palm region.
 2. The glove asdefined in claim 1, wherein the tip region of the one or more of thethumb region, the index finger region, the middle finger region, thering finger region and the little finger region is of a firstcircumference and the remaining length of the one or more of the thumbregion, the index finger region, the middle finger region, the ringfinger region and the little finger region, respectively, is of a secondcircumference; and the first circumference is smaller than the secondcircumference.
 3. The glove as defined in claim 2, wherein thetransition region has a first taper.
 4. The glove as defined in claim 2,wherein the transition region comprises: a first transition area; and asecond transition area; wherein the first transition area extendsoutwardly from the tip region of the one or more of the thumb region,the index finger region, the middle finger region, the ring fingerregion and the little finger region; and the second transition areaextends from the first transition area to the remaining length of theone or more of the thumb region, the index finger region, the middlefinger region, the ring finger region and the little finger region,respectively.
 5. The glove as defined in claim 4, wherein the firsttransition area has a first taper.
 6. The glove as defined in claim 5,wherein the second transition area has a second taper, and wherein thesecond taper is more extreme than the first taper.
 7. The glove asdefined in claim 6, wherein the second transition area is one ofstraight and tapered.
 8. A glove comprising: a palm region; a pluralityof digit regions extending outwardly from the palm region; wherein oneor more of the plurality of digit regions includes a tip region and aremaining length, wherein the tip region originates proximate an end ofthe respective one of the plurality of digit regions and the remaininglength connects the tip region to the palm region; and wherein the oneor more of the plurality of digit regions tapers in circumference fromthe remaining length thereof to the tip region thereof.
 9. The glove asdefined in claim 8, further comprising: a transition region extendingbetween the tip region and the remaining length of the one or more ofthe plurality of digit regions.
 10. The glove as defined in claim 9,wherein the transition region has a first taper.
 11. The glove asdefined in claim 9, wherein the transition region comprises: a firsttransition area; and a second transition area; wherein the firsttransition area extends outwardly from the tip region and the secondtransition area extends from the first transition area to the remaininglength.
 12. The glove as defined in claim 11, wherein the firsttransition area has a first taper.
 13. The glove as defined in claim 12,wherein the second transition area has a second taper, and wherein thesecond taper is more extreme than the first taper.
 14. The glove asdefined in claim 13, wherein the second transition area is one ofstraight and tapered.
 15. The glove as defined in claim 11, wherein thetip region is of a first circumference and the remaining length is of asecond circumference; and the first circumference is smaller than thesecond circumference.
 16. The glove as defined in claim 15, wherein thefirst circumference is of a size that is adapted to cause the tip regionto be pulled tightly around an end of a person's digit when the glove isworn.
 17. The glove as defined in claim 11, wherein a circumference ofthe tip region is of a size that is adapted to cause a wall thickness ofthe tip region to become thinner than a wall thickness of the remaininglength when the glove is worn on the person's hand.
 18. A method ofdonning a glove comprising steps of: providing a glove having a palmregion and a plurality of digit regions extending outwardly from thepalm region; providing a tip region of a first circumference on one ormore of the plurality of digit regions, wherein the tip region extendsfrom proximate an end of the one or more of the plurality of digitregions to where a first knuckle of a user's digit is located when theglove is worn; providing a remaining length of a second circumference onthe one or more of the plurality of digit regions, wherein the firstcircumference is smaller than the second circumference, and theremaining length extends outwardly from the palm region and towards thetip region; providing a transition region between the tip region and theremaining length; wherein the transition region has a first taper;inserting a user's hand into the glove including inserting the user'sdigits into the one or more digit regions; pulling the tip regiontightly over an outer end of the user's digit.
 19. The method as definedin claim 18, further comprising: stretching a material used to fabricatethe glove as the glove is donned; causing the material in the tip regionto become thinner as the material is stretched; and maintaining tactilesensitivity in the outer end of the user's digit while wearing theglove.
 20. The method as defined in claim 18, further comprising:providing a smooth, untextured surface on the tip region; placing thesmooth untextured surface against a patient's skin; and taking thepatient's pulse through the smooth, untextured surface.